Conditions
Conditions That May Qualify for Disability
Social Security can award benefits for a wide range of physical and mental conditions. What matters is not the diagnosis alone, but how your condition limits your ability to work. Here are some of the conditions we see most often.
The Blue Book, and why a missing listing is not the end
To decide medical claims, Social Security uses a reference commonly called the Blue Book, its Listing of Impairments. Each listing describes a condition along with the specific findings that would make it severe enough to be considered disabling on its own. If your condition matches a listing, the medical part of your claim is straightforward.
The important thing to know is that the Blue Book is not a complete catalog of every disabling condition. Many serious impairments are not listed at all, and many people who are clearly unable to work do not fit a listing exactly. When that happens, benefits can still be won by showing that your condition is functionally equivalent to a listed impairment, meaning it limits you in ways that are just as severe as a condition Social Security already recognizes. Building that argument well, with the right medical evidence, is often where the case is actually won.
Back and Spine Conditions
Chronic back pain, degenerative disc disease, herniated discs, spinal stenosis, and nerve root compression.
Learn moreCardiovascular Conditions
Heart failure, coronary artery disease, arrhythmias, and other conditions that limit exertion and stamina.
Learn moreNeurological Conditions
Epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, neuropathy, Parkinson’s disease, and the lasting effects of stroke.
Learn moreRespiratory Conditions
COPD, chronic asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, and other conditions that limit breathing and stamina.
Learn moreMental Health as a Secondary Impairment
Depression and anxiety that develop alongside a physical disability and add to your work-related limits.
Learn moreDo not see your condition listed? This is not a complete list. Many other physical and mental conditions can qualify. The best way to find out is to request a free consultation.
Benefits are not only for disabled workers
Some benefits are tied to a family member’s work record or to a specific situation rather than your own employment history. Depending on the facts, you may qualify as:
- A disabled adult child (DAC), if a disability began before age 22 and a parent is deceased or receiving Social Security benefits.
- A disabled widow or widower (DWB), based on a late spouse’s work record.
- A blind adult or child, under the specific rules Social Security applies to blindness.
These rules are detailed and easy to overlook. If any of them might apply to you or a family member, call Dan to talk it through.
Talk with Dan about your claim
Every consultation is free, and there is no obligation. You pay no attorney fee unless your claim is won. Most of what we need can be handled over the phone.